For Phil and His Family

 

Many Have already heard but I think it should still be said. Yesterday a 65 year old woman was driving a van and for some reason she crossed completely over the white line. In doing so she hit and caused the death of Monticello's very own Phillip Gregory LaVallee. Phil Graduated with me last year and he was one of the most amazing athletes I have ever seen or had the chance to know.

He said once, in an interview that one thing he thought would be kind of cool to do before he passed was to win our hometowns 5K. Earlier this summer Phil did just that! He even set a record for fastest time! I remember seeing him there and thinking, "holy cow he's amazing". My mother and I were excited that someone from Monticello had won this year and she remembers seeing him jogging back after finishing while she was still running. She also thought that he was amazing.

Best wishes to Phil's family, goodness knows how hard it is to lose someone. especially someone who was so young and full of promise. 

To read the original story follow the below link.

http://monticellotimes.com/2013/08/09/van-hits-kills-mhs-graduate-out-for-a-run/

Thank You,

Haleigh

Impact

 

This story is sorrowful and yet the survivors and the families of those that were lost have taken this tragic event and turned it into some of the most powerful experiences that have affect our nation as a whole. The crash in Carrolton, Ky on May 14th 1988 is a compounded memory for all involved. The terror of the crash, the fight for survival and the bravery they had to recover is a heart wrenching tale that must be told and retold over and over. From one mans ignorant choice a country has mourned and countless changes have been initiated. Those changes being one of the few positive things to come from this event.

The bus had just refueled, the students and chaperons were starting to settle down after a day of excitement. No one thought that a vehicle would be going the wrong way, no one thought they would be so thoroughly encased in fire, and no one thought that so many would be lost. When that car hit the barely protected fuel tank on that old bus, flames shot down the side. A survivor, Jason Booher, remembers this scene vividly, "Chuck, the youth director of the church that sponsored the trip, was sitting in the stairwell, so he stood up, and he was immediately engulfed in flames. He yelled out, “Lord, I’m coming home!” That was unbelievable, to witness something like that.". At the time of the crash Booher was a mere 13 years old and recalls this event in horrific details.

Pictured above is Jason Booher a survivor of the 1988 Carrolton crash.

From there the bus which was meant filled to the brim with people and bags and coolers, collapsed into a panicked frenzy. The only exit remaining was the one in the back of the school bus sine the front was engulfed in flames. Everyone scrambled from their seats, piling up on top of each other in a brutal race towards freedom and safety. Sadly only 40 of the original 67 made it off of that bus. A rough 8 or so made it with only smoke inhalation as their injuries. The rest had severe burns, multiple skin graphs and weeks to spend in the hospital. Visual reminders will forever scar them and become a permanent reminder of that night so long ago, of that horror.

This production will show a tragedy and will show how these family, this town, our nation is working to overcome it. The good and the bad side affects from this crash will be sharing in stark details and as  raw memories from the survivors. Take the time to watch this film and think about the impact it has had. This is the link to the movie's site, click here. The link to the story is here.

Thank You,
Haleigh

Mother Boards School Bus with Intent

Rebecca Sardoni and Stephanie Sardoni illegally boarded a  Toms River Regional School Bus last Friday morning and then proceed to assault two children . The driver of the bus (who remains anonymous) stated that Sardoni boarded the bus at her daughters stop and used vulgar language to describe an incident involving  Rebecca's daughter and Stephanie's Grand daughter. From there Rebecca called out "who is Vinny?".  A boy near the rear of the bus supposedly raised his hand. After which Rebecca Sardoni went to the 9 year old boy and slapped him without saying another word. She hit him so hard that his face smashed into a school bus window. The boys had to be taken to the hospital for treatment for a busted lip and neck injuries.

Pictured above is Rebecca Sardoni.

 

Rebecca Sardoni call the school on Thursday night to voice her complaint about her daughter being bullied. Together the school official and Rebecca decided that the students mentioned would be spoken to by the school after the bus dropped them off on Friday morning. What these two woman did was illegal and ill founded. Not to mention unreasonably aggressive. To swear and use violence in front of children ranging from the ages of 5-10 years old is beyond my comprehension. These two woman should be down right ashamed of them selves. Even if the boy had been guilty of bullying her daughter, which he wasn't, using physical force is never the right way to discipline a child in that situation.

Sardoni has been charged with and arrested for the following; simple assault, criminal trespass and terroristic threats.  Stephanie was charged with Criminal Trespass. The school also stated that this was not the first run-in with this parent. All this because she boarded the bus looking to take her daughters bullying matters into her own hands. The boy she hit was not a part of her daughters bullying, she made a mistake and now she will have to pay for acting in such and unreasonable and irresponsible manner. She will also need to live with the fact that she has hurt an innocent child and that above all is unforgivable.

To read the original story click here.

Thank You,
Haleigh

Plans Underway for Annual Driver Training

We have been doing our annual driving training in a one-on-one setting for the last few years so we would have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with each driver.

We're shaking things up this year.

On August 20, 2013, we are going to run two sessions.  The first begins at 8:00 am and runs until 1:00 pm, and the second begins at 12:00 and runs until 4:00 pm.  Each of the two sessions will be identical; it's up to bus drivers which option to choose.

We're going to set up a bunch of booths and training stations in the parking lot.  Drivers will be paired in groups of two or three and will be assigned a starting point and assigned a path.  They will collect a token at each booth, and will be able to enter a drawing for a marvelous (REALLY MARVELOUS) grand prize drawing at the end of the day.

So far we have planned the following stations (a minimum of twelve stations will be set up and a maximum of twenty-five), and have contacted a few area vendors and businesses to (we hope!) get a few unique learning opportunities for our staff:

• Jami will meet with the small team of drivers to give them their routes and Opening Day information packets.  She will update them with some staffing changes made over the summer.
• A trainer will demonstrate several different versions of our No Child Left Behind Devices, wheelchair securement, and miscellaneous items relating to pre- and post-trip inspections.  EACH driver will have a chance to secure a wheelchair.
• A local expert will observe drivers securing car seats, vests, and other restraint devices, and will make corrections where necessary.
• Shelley will have packets of annual forms, including tax and employment forms, DOT forms, personal information updates, and MVR reviews.  She will also be handing out revisions of three important publications we haven't revised for five years.
• A local business will offer chair massages and health and wellness information.
• A local health expert will offer information about dealing with common special circumstances, like choking, seizures, epipens, and general student information.
• Matt will offer a mirror adjustment clinic so EACH driver will learn about adjusting mirrors in an unfamiliar bus for the proper positioning to minimize blind spots.

The list is already exciting, but the final five spots haven't been confirmed yet.  I guarantee they will top off the list in STYLE and SUBSTANCE!

We've also contacted a local food vendor to create a fantastic menu so the morning attendees can end their day with a meal and the afternoon attendees can begin their session with a meal.  We're hoping that creates an opportunity to introduce new employees and perhaps some school administrators and staff.  

We have started working on contacting some local businesses who might be interested in providing some coupons or giveaways for our BUS DRIVER GOODIE BAGS, which are always a big hit and which generate some extra business in our community.

This should be a fun event and a great kick-off to the school year.  

Y'all should stop in for a peek.

Safe Driving!

Kari

We Have an Impact on our Students!

One student in New York gained the will to succeed after speaking to her school bus driver after having a rather rough day at school. Ken Boisvert was the driver of Destynee Duncan, (who is now graduated)when she boarded the school bus one day after school and said that she was never going back. Duncan said that the state tests they administer in New York to all students, had been too hard and she had felt that she had performed them badly.

Pictured above is Boisvert and Duncan.

 



 It was at this time that Boisvert decided to step in and talk with the student about how important it is to finish school and graduate. He explained to Duncan that it is hard to succeed in our society without having your diploma. He is right of coarse seeing as very few places will hire anyone who isn't in school and did not graduate. That being said Boisvert told Duncan his story, expressing at one point that if he was able to finish she should be able to as well.

Duncan did go back to school. She did graduate, it was Boisvert that she invited to the ceremony. It is also him that she thanks and credit with her return and successful finish.

School bus drivers can be the best part of every students morning or the most influential person in a moment.  Here at Hoglund transportation we strive to let the students have a safe ride but we also want to offer them a trustworthy adult who is ready and willing to help to the best of their abilities. To Ken Boisvert, I say he did an amazing job and deserves to be recognized as an outstanding member of the school bus community.

Thank You,
Haleigh

46 Years Behind the Wheel!!!

Not many drivers have been around long enough to see the 2-way radios installed  in school buses, but  Joyce Bernard has. With 46 years of school bus service under her belt she has witnessed a lot and can attest to the improvement of school bus safety. Bernard started driving to be closer to her children and when she found out the job was not a part time commitment she dove right in and has been dedicated since.

For most students the first thing they experience each and every Monday-Friday morning is a ride on the school bus. That means that the first person they see is a school bus driver and that is why being a driver is not to be taken lightly. Drivers can make that first day special and add a little "umff" to a child's step just by giving them a warm and reassuring first meeting! A bound between a driver and a student can be one of the stronger relationships they have during their elementary school years since they can remain the same during the entire time spanned.

Pictured above is  Joyce Bernard.

 Bernard says that she felt like her students didn't really care about her, she was wrong. When she hit black ice in one of her earlier years and got into a little accident the company was downsizing the area they needed covered and Bernard asked if she could cover a route closer to home. She late found out that the students where going to the school board because they thought she was being punished for the accident. Bernard commented that the children she drove were amazing .

We encourage our drivers to treat the children with a "kind and caring" attitude at all times to ensure that both the student riders and the drivers stay on good terms and able to easily approach one another if something was to happen. We encourage our students and drivers to always be open with each other. Hoglund Transportation works hard to insure that your child's first, second, and all the way to the final bus ride they take is in a comfortable and welcoming environment.

Thank You,

Haleigh

If it's Sunny...it must be Summer!

It's so close to the end of the year and all of us here at Hoglund Transportation look forward to finishing this school year off well!  We hope that all of our students return to us in the fall and have a blast this summer. Remember to finish strong and be safe during this well earned vacation!

Sidney Driver Saves Choking Boy!!!

While driving on May 1st  Nathan Philbrick thought it was just going to be another run of the mill route, he was wrong. With only two pick-ups remaining before he reached the school he noticed a girl calling out on the bus. He was thinking she was just going to have some sort of silly announcement until he looked at her face. From her expression he knew something serious was happening and that he needed to take action.

The little girl was pointing across from her at a little boy who she had just boarded the school bus with. The boy was grasping at his thought and was silently crying. At that moment he safely stopped the bus and went to the boy. As a mandatory regulation by his employer, Philbrick was well aware of how to perform the Heimlich maneuver in the proper way. Shortly after starting a piece of candy was dislodged from the boys throat  and sent flung across the bus.

Thanks to this drivers attentiveness to his pass angers this little boy was able to be saved. Both Driver and the little girl who pointed the boy out are to be given awards for their respective rolls in saving this little boys life.

Thank You,
Haleigh

Find the Fish!

    As a promotion for one of our "Hoglund Companies"- U-Save Auto Rental- we have begun a fun little event. When you rent a car/van you will find a note inside telling you that you have become part of an involuntary scavenger hunt. It's pretty simple though so no worries. All you have to do is find the Swedish fish hidden in the car!

   We are not professional hide and seekers so the task is easily accomplished and your reward is sweet! When you find the fish you will also find a note with them. This note gives you the background information on why we have hidden the fish in the first place! Aside from the note and the fish, you will find an otherwise clean and ready to roll car! We enjoy our jobs while you enjoy our business. We look forward to seeing you soon!

A Good Deed, One Big Mistake

A few weeks ago in California a teacher offered a ride to a wheelchair-bound woman and her male companion. As it turns out the woman was the mother of one of the children who happened to be on the field trip. The field trip was from East Side Union High School and was headed to a college, the purpose for this field trip was not stated. The woman and her companion did not ride to the college on the school bus but were left with out a ride for the way back, which is why they asked a teacher to let them return to the high school on the school bus.

In our company letting an unconfirmed and/or an unknown person on board a school bus is a severe breech in policy. What I find to be truly unacceptable is that the male companion is a convicted sex offender and yet he was allowed to accompany the field trip! I would personally be in an outrage if anything like this ever happened when I was in school or if my child had been involved. It is reported that the two sat in the front of the bus away from any of the students and that no crime was committed but that is still an uneasy situation to be in.

This teacher was only trying to be helpful and ended up putting a lot of children in a dangerous situation. Please use more caution when trying to help and be aware that it could back fire.

If you want to read the full story click here.

Thank You,
Haleigh

Joy Ride lands Boy Back in Jail

Pictured above is Jonathan Cole Collins

      Jonathan Collins, 18-years-old, had just been released from jail when he found himself without a ride. He had been charged with a misdemeanor marijuana charge and had only served 4 days of jail time. Upon his release he began the walk home which was roughly 9.5 miles in the chilly winter weather. Since he wanted to avoid being cold he decided it would be a good idea to "borrow" a Catoosa County school bus from a near by high school.

     Collins located the school buses key, which was meant for the substitute driver, and boarded and started the school bus. Luckily the school bus was equipped with a security camera that was automatically activated when the buses engine was cranked. Collins drove for bus for approximately 20 minutes before discarding it and finishing his trek home on foot, so as to make his arrival look less suspicious.

      When the bus was located the next morning the county was excited to see that no one was injured and the bus was not damaged either. They were able to identify Collins from the video feed and when they confronted him later that day he admitted to the theft. . "He said, 'I just didn't want to walk anymore and decided to drive the bus,'" Fort Oglethorpe Detective James Leamon told WRCB. Collins now faces a $1,000 dollar fine or up to a year in jail.


To read the complete story click here.

Thank You,
Haleigh

An Inspirational Man

Pictured above is Earl Rineer.

In Lafayette Hill, Pa, I happened upon an article about Earl Rineer. What an inspiring man, still driving (and even training) at 90-years-old - a commitment not made by many.  After  serving in World War II, Rineer served as a police officer, and found time to volunteer for the local fire department as a fire fighter, and for special school bus routes. 

It was 1976 when Rineer became an official school bus driver and in just a few short years he was certified to be a school bus driver trainer.  Having been driving for about 25 years, he had accumulated a vast amount of knowledge and was an inspiration to the younger generations. His son, Jerry Rineer, who is transportation supervisor for Lower Merion School District in Ardmore, Pa., told SBF that his father recently showed him how he stays so fit and able.

"He starts out every morning and ends every day doing push-ups, sit-ups, leg lifts, etc.," Jerry Rineer said.

My only hope is that I am still able to function at 90!  Exercising may be one of those things I brag to my grandkids about, saying, "Back in my day...we had treadmills in the gym, not [insert whatever new-fangeled device they will have invented by then]." Yes, Rineer has inspired me to not only be more generous in my lifetime but to also stay in shape and dedicate myself to something I love. 

Congratulations on so many years of service and thank you, Earl Rineer, for protecting our country. You are amazing and I'd like to wish you a happy 90th birthday.

To read the full story click here.

Thank You,

Haleigh

A Driver to be Praised and a Child Who Needs Help.

A heroic tragedy took place this past Tuesday in Midland City, Alabama. It stared when the suspect now identified as Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, a Vietnam veteran and retired truck driver, boarded a school bus at about 3:40 p.m. and demanded two 6-8 year old hostages. The bus driver ,Charles Poland, age 66, had been driving students home and upon hearing Dykes commands stood up and place himself between Dykes and the children as they evacuated from the rear of the school bus. Not much detail has been reported on exactly what occurred next, but what we do know is that Poland, in his outstanding bravery allowed at least 21 students to escape from the school bus before Dykes shot him four times. After Poland was shot and subsequently murdered by Dykes, Dykes managed to snatch a single child from the bus and force him into a bunker Dykes had previously made behind his home in the same neighborhood.

 Pictured above is  Charles Poland, the school bus driver.

The child is know to be a five year old boy and who's name will not be released for obvious reasons. As earlier stated, this horrible event happened on Tuesday, January 29th. As of this morning, Dykes and the young boy are still within the bunker. Reports from neighbor, Michael Creel, have lead police to believe that the bunker is "4-foot-wide, about 6-foot-long, 8-foot-deep homemade bomb shelter, with 3 to 4 feet of sand on top of it. If you didn’t know it was there, you wouldn’t [notice it]”. The police and negotiator has been able to keep in contact with Dykes through a PVC pipe sticking out from the shelter to allow air in. Through this same pipe the police were allowed to deliver much needed medicine and some coloring books and crayons to the child inside. While talking to Dykes they were told that Dykes had previously prepared an electric heater and blankets for the boy. 

Pictured above is Jimmy Dykes, the assailant.

The community is in a small uproar over this situation and school was cancelled Wednesday, when the schools reopened on Friday there where grief counsellors provided for the children. Their is a memorial Saturday night at a visitation service, followed by a funeral service Sunday at the Ozark Civic Center for the brave driver, Poland and prayer goes out to both his family and the family of this poor unknown child. 

If you have a moment, keep them in mind. No one knows what it is like for either family but we can all lend them our support. I, as well as the rest of the staff at Hoglund Transportation will be hoping for the absolute best, a quick and safe return of the young boy, and moral support for Poland's family. Check this link for the latest updates.

Thank You,
Haleigh and Hoglund Transportation's staff

Hoglund's 13 in 2013 Program!

     Starting this month Hoglund Transportation is holding a program for its employees!  This program is focused on 13 areas that an average adult can improve on.  As well as providing the employees with gym passes, this event also gives every participating member (13 in '13 is not mandatory but it's recommended strongly) a pedometer, water bottle, and a 13 in '13 journal! This journal provides you with all 13 improvement methods, and allows room to keep track of your progress. Before I go too far, here are the 13 improvements:

• Going to the gym and finding new ways to physically challenge and improve your body.
• Drinking enough water.
• Eating the right amount of fruit.
• Making sure you are getting enough sleep each night.
• Finding a way to challenge your mind.
• Eating the correct amount of veggies.
• Working on stress management.
• Keeping a positive attitude.
• Contributing to the community.
• Making sure that you are not a couch potato.
• Using daily affirmations
• Planning your meals in a healthy way.
  
       Now for the nitty-gritty, during this first week we have used the gym time to help new gym goers figure everything out. For the first two day the employees where introduced to the machines and could randomly hop from machine to machine. The third day we broke any employees who wanted to into groups and did a set work out plan focused on lower body strengthening. The fourth day we broke into groups as well and focused on upper body. Today we are going to do a tabata.

     For those who do not know what Tabata is, I will explain it here. Tabata is where you pick 6,8,10,or 12 different exercises, and do them in 20 second intervals with 10 second breaks. You do 8 intervals of each exercise you choose. This is a super fun way to work out because the Tabata music always has a quick beat and fun music (music can be bought online or through itunes). Starting next Thursday, there will be a Tabata class led by one of our staff members every week.

     Improving yourself is something all of us can work towards! It isn't hard to increase the amount of water you drink by one cup, or snack on an apple on your way to work. The goal of 13 in 2013 isn't to have everyone lose an extreme amount of weight because that's not realistic. The goal is for the employee to notice change, and know they're able to accomplish their goal with a little determination, effort and support.

Check out our Facebook page for update on work outs, what charity we are donating to this month, and healthy recipes and meal planning tips!

Thank You,

Haleigh

Man Wrested off a Loaded School Bus!

In Palestine Texas a man attempted to hijack a school bus that had approximately 14 students on board. The man is said to have been fleeing from a fight he started in a near by apartment complex. The man is thought to be 30 years old and fled onto the bus while the driver was in the isle assisting a student.

The driver immediately removed the man from his bus with the help of two by-standers. One of which was the apartment complex manager and the second was an off-duty corrections officer. Both of the men rushed to the bus drivers aid and together the men were able to remove the man from the school bus and restrain him until the police arrived.

Lucky for us none of the children were hurt and the bus driver is also reported as being uninjured.


To read the full story click here!

Thank You,
Haleigh

Simply an Astounding Generousity

In Portland, Oregon school bus drivers are delivering Christmas presents and cheer to families in need. Starting a few years back a group of drivers wanted to do something for the less fortunate families in the district and they can up with this amazingly generous plan. First they have the families and young mothers place theirs and their child's need on a "giving tree". Then each driver adopted families and underage mothers. The mothers all got a hat and scarf or mittens while the children got warm clothes or a toy. For families the drivers supplied 3 presents per child. Simply astounding.

To watch a short clip on it click here.

In total the drivers have adopted over 200 children! That is a life changing event for those children and families in need. As a parent I couldn't even begin to express my gratitude for someone who made Christmas a possibility for my children. Some people are willing to go above and beyond for others and that is what we strive for here at Hoglund Transportation. Compliance is an obligation; Excellence is a choice.

Happy Holidays and Safe Driving to all!
To read more click here!

Thank You,
Haleigh